The First Daughter

11

"Ikaw, Alden! Kung ano-ano tinuturo mo oh!" Maine scolded Alden playfully while Alden was seated beside Manong Allan.

"Eh kasi naman 'tong si Allan eh! Tinatakot si Elisse, pinakita ba naman yung monkey face niya."

Elisse was just laughing at their banter and was quite excited that she was the cause of the ruckus in the car. "Manong Allan, can you do your face again?"

Manong Allan obliged to the little girl's request, and Elisse's laugh grew even wilder.

"Manong! Mag-drive ka na lang! Baka mapano pa tayo."

"Tita Maine, can you try looking like a monkey?"

"Iiiieeeh." Maine felt shy because suddenly Alden looked at her from the rear-view mirror and their eyes met in that instant.

"Tita! Sige na."

"Iiiiehhhhh. No, Elisse!"

"Hala, si Ma'am nagpapabebe oh!" Manong Allan teased her. "Si Ma'am nahihiya oh!"

Then slowly, her facial expression changed and did the monkey face with matching actions. Elisse's laughter could no longer be contained, and this time Alden was also laughing with them. For the first time in quite a long time Alden's laugh finally reached his eyes, and for the first time Maine felt very carefree about her actions without having to be reckless.

"Ay ang cute!" Alden replied nonchalantly with a smile.

Maine stopped smiling, and then as always she felt her cheeks burn. There's something about the way that Alden compliments her that makes her feel shy and embarrassed. She turned her attention on Elisse and just continued talking to the little girl.

"Elisse, hungry ka? Hungry na ako eh," that was her attempt in changing the topic that was obviously a lie. For breakfast, she's had a full meal, a glass of Milo Dinosaur, and some left over chocolates Coleen brought home.

***

A little bit after lunch, Maine decided to take them to lunch in a mall nearby. They settled for an American-Italian restaurant. "Maine, nako mahal diyan. Dito nalang kami ni Elisse at Manong Allan sa kabila."

"Ano ka ba! Ano ako? Kakain mag-isa? Libre ko yung araw na 'to kay Elisse. So I hope that you guys can also join me for lunch."

The hostess sat them down at a corner booth, and Elisse on a high chair. "Miss, it's her birthday tomorrow I hope you can prepare something for her?"

"Yes, Ma'am," the Manager responded. After all, it was an honor for them to be visited by the President's daughter. 

After they've eaten everything, the waiters and the manager went to their table and gave Elisse a birthday cake to blow and sang her a song. Not just a slice, but the entire whole. "Happy Birthday, Elisse! Make a wish."

Elisse closed her eyes, put her palms together, "Sana, may mommy na ako." She blew out the candle. "Thank you Tita Maine!" She peppers her cheeks with kisses.

"No problem, Sweetie!"

"Papa, can we pray? I want to thank Papa Jesus eh."

Alden was a very religious guy, and whenever there would be big celebrations, he would tell Elisse to pray after to give thanks. All of them prayed with her as she gave thanks for her birthday.

"...Papa Jesus, thank you for the animals na nakita ko today..." Thank you na masaya si Elisse today.

"...Kay Tita Maine for bringing me to the zoo..." Kay Maine for doing that for her.

"...For Papa kasi he's always taking care of me and he loves me very much. Sana makita 'to ni mama because sabi ni Papa she loves animals..." Na kahit wala na si Cam, nandyan si Maine to at least give Elisse this experience.

"Sana po lagi kaming ganito. Amen." Sana lagi kaming ganito. Amen.

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Continuation lang 'to ng 10. HAHA. Pahabol lang. Anyway, thank you everyone for patronizing. I try to insert as much Filipino to really practice my writing. It really is easier to speak it than to read or write, so I hope I didn't commit any mistakes. Anyway, vote, share, comment your favorite lines, scenes or any violent reactions.